I "think" we all know that Protek CLP oil is the answer for the various uses and needs in the pianos we tune, adjust and repair. It's the best for many reasons BUT is there (by any chance....I'm fishing here!!!) some kind of oil-lube that one can purchase off the rack at say Canadian Tire, Home Depot, etc (you know...locally) that is pretty dog-on-good.....not the real-deal (CLP) but very effective and has a spray nozzle and little hose to work with. I love CLP but it is expensive to purchase where I live and another thing that bothers me is I can't get that wee little "shot" right on the spot where I want it without taking something apart most of the time.

What else do you use for wet-lube anyway in place of CLP?

Since I started using ProTek products, I haven't looked back. Effective, no odor, non-staining, after drying they don't continue to migrate.

There's also the advantage that Protek places an image of a piano on their products bottles. The few times I have been questioned by a customer about the appropriateness of the product I was using in their piano, I was able to show them the label. I could point out that I was using a product specifically designed for use in pianos.

If you are having problems with accuracy in application, try Schaff product number 186, "plastic oiler, 1/2 oz" on their website...
Home > Tools > Technician's Tools. They're awesome and cheap.

I went to piano tuner/tech school back in the late 1970's.... pre-ProTek. I know of other solutions but I'd never go back to them.

Good points, Joe.

I doubt if Protek products were formulated and manufactured specifically for pianos. I think they probably are repackaged industrial fluoropolymer lubricants. But finding out WHICH, seems to be impossible.

Hi David,

You're probably right.... ProTek probably wasn't formulated specifically for pianos. It was probably developed for other purposes and then tested on pianos.

On the back of the CLP bottle it says:
"Will not harm wood, plastic, felt, metal or the piano finish. Will not attract dust. Will not travel."

It is nice to be able to show that to a customer that questions my use of this product.

Yep, and the application cap and nozzle fit on the bottle of CLP! No need to pour back and forth, or have something that might leak. Just keep the cap and nozzle in a zip-lock with a paper towel when not on the bottle of CLP.

Jeff, I think we're discussing two different items. I'm discussing the plastic applicator you dip into the bottle of CLP . You squeeze at the end and release. Then, the CLP gets sucked into the tube. It's more like a pipette.

I agree about the value of being able to show the customer the bottle, so they can see it's specifically a piano product. Mind you, if you knew what the stuff was, and got a cheap bulk supply, you could always decant it into the Protek CLP (or Protek Prolube) bottle!

An alternative to using CLP for flange bushes is alcohol/water mix. When first applied it will stiffen the flange because the felt swells. When fully dried it should be looser than originally.

To reach into the tight areas I always dispense fluids using a long plastic disposable pipette. Just a drop is able to be applied to the flange felt without pulling apart anything.

Greetings,
I would suggest a step back, and ask, where is the value? If the difference in cost between Pro-tek and something off the shelf is a consideration, I think you are not charging anywhere near enough for your labor. When I am treating an action, the cost of Pro-tek is a very, very, small part of the cost, and if there is something that is a slam-dunk, I consider that a huge asset. Pro-tek is about as bullet-proof a treatment as I have seen. Not always effective on heavy verdigris, but in the main, I know what is happening when I use it, ( I have some years of watching pianos I treated).

Over the years, we have seen the fads of silicone mixed with naptha, alcohol, alcohol and water, etc. Each has its adherents, to this day. I have seen wildly varying results with most of those. With Pro-tek, you don't need to worry too much about slopping it all around the "wee" spot you are trying to hit, send in a flood, even if means three or four drops! As the late Guy Nichols, long ago said, "Your time is worth more than the Pro-tek, hose the action centers down in a line, it won't stain or damage anything and is cheaper than the time to put a drop on each bushing."

Regards,

.

Excellent points Ed!

Quoting from the Schaff Webstore:


I don't think there is a substitute that has these properties.

Ooops, your right. The one I meant is Schaff number 191.

It's still good to know that the cap and nozzle will fit on a bottle of CLP. I (and I'm sure others) will find that info useful.

Reflecting on what Ed wrote, has re-set my thinking a bit!

When we consider how effective Protek CLP and Protek Prolube have proven to be for many piano applications, we can't grudge the profits of fellow who discovered its utility and who packages and markets it for pianos. Probably we should (or I should) be charging much more for using it.